Caregivers of those with Alzheimer's have network of support

Ruth Z.W. Johnson / Special to the Times-News

Friday

Oct 25, 2013 at 12:01 AMOct 25, 2013 at 12:35 PM

November is designated as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. According to Home Instead Senior Care, experts estimate that Alzheimer’s either is or will someday impact an estimated one-third of the families in our area. The overwhelming majority of these families — 70 percent — are caring for their loved ones at home. “Many family caregivers wake up every day with anxiety and fear because they don’t know how a loved one with Alzheimer’s will act or react,” said Gail H. Moore, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Alamance and Randolph counties. “We have a network of support including free tools and materials available to help family caregivers navigate the challenges that come with caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.” One of these resources is a Confidence to Care at Home kit, an at-a-glance collection of information, tips and resources to help handle difficult situations, avoid household accidents, encourage engagement and prevent caregiver stress, that is designed for any member of the household to reference, anytime they need it. In addition, Home Instead Senior Care has developed Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias Daily Helper, a free smartphone app that families can use to search behaviors and help find solutions when they have to react quickly to a situation. The app, available now, is designed to help families manage issues as they arise, whether at home or in public. Concerning the estimated one-third of families in our community who will be affected by Alzheimer’s, Moore said, “we want to replace their fears with a sense of confidence that they are equipped to handle any situation.” For more information about the Home Instead Senior Care network or its free Alzheimer’s resources, visit www.helpforalzheim ersfamilies.com or call the local Home Instead Senior Care office (336) 227-8800 or (336) 610-8800. National Family Caregivers Month is also observed in November. With more than 65 million family caregivers in America, there is probably one in your family, neighborhood, workplace or church who could use a special word of encouragement or act of kindness this month. Usually, we think of caregivers as those who care for an elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, but there are many other situations that require full-time caregivers. These include children born with birth defects, those who have suffered debilitating injuries, victims of strokes, and those who are battling cancer or other chronic illnesses. Let’s reach out to these folk this coming month and let them know how special we think they are. Caregiver to Caregiver seeks to honor all family caregivers through our annual Caregiver of the Year award. Readers nominate their favorite caregiver, and a panel of judges selects an entry for this honor. This year’s winner will be announced in this column on Nov. 18. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors for this year’s contest: Diana Ingle of In-Focus Hair Design on Harden Street in Graham; Apollo’s Sandwiches and Subs on North Church Street and Roxie’s Florist on Alamance Road, both of Burlington. Each of these readily donated a generous gift for the winner. Please let them know how much you appreciate their support of family caregivers the next time you visit them. Invitation: Barnes and Noble (Alamance Crossing) has invited me to sign copies of my recently published book, “Or Be Reconciled,” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. I would love to have you join me.

Send your caregiving stories, questions, and comments to rj@caregivertocaregiver.info or “Caregiver to Caregiver,” P.O. Box 125, Alamance,N.C. 27201-0125. Letters are published with readers’ consent. Ruth Z.W. Johnson has more than 12 years experience, both personally and professionally, as a caregiver. Her first novel, “Or Be Reconciled,” was recently published. She welcomes the opportunity to speak to your group.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.